Feed-box for poultry.



PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

P. G. ALLEN. FEED BOX FOR POULTRY. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1906.

Fig 1.

Fig. 2.

IN VENTU'R 62 WITNESSES: M vvu J? gl'ML/LU FRANK G. ALLEN, OF AMES, IOWA.

FEED-BOX FOR POULTRY- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed June 18, 1906- Serial No. 322.266-

To [LU 1071.071), it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ames, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Feed- Box for Poultry, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in feed boxes for poultry in which grain or other dry feed is placed in a box or other receptacle located above and communicating with a second box or receptacle or a feed board into or upon which the feed falls by gravity to replace that removed by the fowls and the objects of my improvement are, first, to prevent waste of the feed by the fowls, second, to provide means for the accommodation of fowls at all sides of the feed box at one time, third, to prevent soiling of the feed by the feet of the fowls. I attain these objects in the feed box illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the entire feed box Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the feed box on the line 1 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the entire feed box with one corner post partly broken away to give a better view of parts behind; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the upper portion of a modi- 'fiod form of the box showing how a sloping cover, K, may be employed if preferred, thus preventing the fowls roosting upon the box.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The feed box consists of an upper box or compartment A, Fig. 1, a lower compartment 0, and a feed board F. The upper compartment A, is supported by the posts B B, and extending between the upper and lower compartments are a plurality of substantially vertical rods, D D, spaced approximately equally between the posts B B.

The upper compartment A, Fig. 1, is contracted at its lower end into a narrow throat E. Around the throat E, is a collar G, slidab y fitted to said throat so that the collar may be moved up and down upon the throat E. There should be sufficient friction between said throat and collar to serve to hold the collar in place when once properly adjusted; the purpose of this adjustment will be referred to hereinafter.

The feed board F, Fig. 1, is supported by the posts B B, at a height somewhat below the upper edge of the walls H H, of the lower compartment 0, and below the lower end of the throat E. The points where the feed board F, is connected to the posts B B, are more clearly shown at I I, Fig. 2. The feed board is somewhat smaller than the inside of.

the compartment 0, Fig. 1, thus leaving a space R R, Figs. 1 and 2 between the outer edges of the feed board and the walls of the compartment C.

The upper compartment A, Fig. 1, is provided with a cover K, which may be lifted when introducing feed into the compartment A. The lower compartment C, is provided with a door L, Fig. 1, hinged at M, and opening outward and secured by a hook or latch at N.

Upon the upper surface of the feed board F, Fig. 1, are rigidly secured a plurality of short pins, P, placed in a sloping position as shown, their upper ends clearing the collar G, so that said collar may be moved freely up and down between said pins. The position of said pins P, with relation to said collar is clearly shown in Fig. 2, at P P, and also in Fig. 3 at P.

Grain or other dry feed is placed in the upper box or compartment A, Fig. 1, whence it falls down through the throat E, upon the center of the feed board F, a small portion of the grain being forced out through the space between the collar G, and the feed board F, as shown by the arrows, Fig. 1. The amount of grain that will be so forced out upon the feed board at one time may be regulated by raising or lowering the collar G.

The fowls pick the feed from the feed board F, Fig. 1, and in so doing impart a slight motion to the feed board which causes a continuous supply of feed to appear along the lower edge of the collar G, as long as any remains in the compartment A. In order that the mo tion imparted by the fowls to the feed board may be sufficient to cause a free flow of feed, said feed board should be made of some thin material such as sheet metal, and,may be reinforced around its outer edge by a frame of heavier material, as shown at O 0, Fig. 1.

The pins P, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are placed as has been described to prevent the fowls from raking their beaks along the lower edge of the collar G, and thus throwing feed out upon the ground.

The vertical rods D, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 1, keep the fowls from soiling the feed by getting their feet upon the feed board.

Any food not eaten by the fowls is gradually moved outward from the center of the feed board F, Fig. 1 and finally falls over the outer edge of the feed board through the slots R R, Figs. 1 and 2, into the lower compartment C, big. 1. From time to time the feed that falls into the compartment C, may be removed by opening the door L, Fig. 1, and replaced in the compartment A, or otherwise disposed of.

1 am aware that prior to my invention feed boxes for poultry have been made with an upper compartment in which the feed is placed and a lower compartment into which the feed falls through a narrow opening, and from which it is eaten by the fowls. I am also aware that feed boxes for poultry have been made with upper and lower compartments, a portion of one side of the upper compartment being covered by a screen through which the feed is intended to sift into the lower compartment placed directly below said screen. I, therefore, do not claim either of said combinations broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. The combination, in a feed box for poultry, of an upper compartment or box provided with a cover, a substantially fiat feed board placed below said upper compartment to receive the feed discharged from said upper compartment, said feed board being provided with a plurality of short pins fastened to its upper surface and placed opposite or around the opening through which said upper compartment discharges upon the feed board, with a lower compartment into which feed that has passed over the feed board may fall, all substantially as set forth.

2. In a feed box for poultry, the combination of an upper compartment, a feed board upon which said upper compartment discharges, a lower compartment placed below said feed board to catch any feed that may fall from. the feed board, with a guard composed of substantially vertical rods placed around said feed board and extending up ward from the upper edges of the outer walls of the lower compartment to keep the fowls from getting their feet upon the feed board or above any uncovered part of the lower compartment and soiling the feed upon the feed board or in the said lower compartment, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK G. ALLEN.

itnesses H. VVEsTERMAN, T. A. DoDDs. 

